Wyoming’s Wingard and Granderson Are Part of Bednarik Watch List

For the first time in school history, the University of Wyoming has two players on the preseason Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List.

It includes Wyoming senior safety Andrew Wingard and senior defensive end Carl Granderson. The Maxwell Football Club released its 2018 Bednarik Award Watch List Monday. The Bednarik Award is given annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year.

The Cowboys were one of 23 teams that had multiple players chosen for this year's Watch List, but UW was the only non-Power 5 school with more than one player selected.

Both Wingard and Granderson were First Team All-Mountain selections as juniors after the 2017 season.

Wingard tied for the MW lead and ranked No. 15 in the nation with five interceptions last year. He was also seventh in the league and 37th in the country in total tackles at 8.8 per game, which led all MW defensive backs.

Granderson was second in the MW and ranked 16th nationally in sacks with 9.5 last season. He was second in the conference with 16 tackles for loss. Granderson led all MW defensive lineman with an average of 5.9 tackles per game in 2017.

Both players helped the Wyoming defense lead the country in takeaways last year with 38. The Pokes also led the MW and finished No. 9 nationally in scoring defense, as they allowed only 17.5 points per game.

The Cowboys report Fall Camp July 26. Their first day of practice is July 27. The season begins August 25 at New Mexico State with a 6 p.m. kickoff.